(Clearwisdom.net) I became a Falun Dafa practitioner in 1994. Since then, I have been on a cultivation path to return to my true nature. Although I have encountered numerous tribulations over the past 15 years, I have made it thanks to the protection of our merciful Master and the guidance of Dafa. I more clearly understand the profound meaning of "Cultivation depends on one's own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one's master." and "One's gong level is as high as one's xinxing level" (Zhuan Falun). I also recognize the majesty and the power of the Fa. The following illustrates some of my cultivation experiences.

Eliminating human mentalities and defeating evil

I went to Beijing to clarify the truth in October 2000, and was illegally detained in the Miyun County Detention Center for five days. The fact that I was detained irked both my family and my work supervisors. My family was worried about my safety, and my supervisors were worried about the possible loss of their jobs.

In 2001, I was notified to attend a meeting held at my workplace for Falun Gong practitioners. More than 20 practitioners from our unit attended. All the departmental secretaries and key supervisors were there. Their overwhelming presence was an attempt to intimidate us practitioners. We were rowdily threatened that we would be fired and reported to the Public Security Bureau if we continued to cultivate. They separately interrogated each of us. It was very intimidating, a test difficult for a cultivator to pass without steadfast righteous thoughts.

This event occurred not long after Master released his article "Suffocate the Evil." Thinking of my years of cultivation and the benefits I had gained from Dafa, I felt from the beginning of the meeting that an invisible force was surrounding and supporting me. It would be ridiculous if I let myself be coerced into quitting cultivation. I thus firmly vowed, without fear, to steadfastly continue my cultivation to the end. I silently recited:

"In the face of tests one's true nature is revealed
Achieve consummation, becoming a Buddha, Dao, or God"
("True Nature Revealed" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)

and

"Grand talk counts for naught when it comes to life and death,
actions reveal what is true."
("The Knowing Heart" from Essentials for Further Advancement II).

I stared at them and recited "Suffocate the Evil." When it was my turn, it was surprising that I was only greeted with a few words and left alone.

I learned from this test that a genuine Dafa practitioner with the Fa in his or her mind and full of righteous thoughts should not be swayed in any circumstance, because Master always protects us. Although the test seems difficult, it can be passed if you raise your xinxing. We will then realize the profound meaning of "Cultivation depends on one's own efforts, while the transformation of gong is done by one's master." (Zhuan Falun) With high level xinxing, a cultivator will have completely righteous thoughts.

Clarifying the truth and saving sentient beings

Our mission is to clarify the truth and save sentient beings. Dafa disciples should carry out these responsibilities well. I always go out to clarify the facts after sending forth righteous thoughts at noon. After sending righteous thoughts, I have a good attitude and mindset to save sentient beings, and Master will guide the predestined beings to me.

A practitioner with the Fa in mind can always save sentient beings. For example, when I urged a Catholic woman to quit the CCP, her first response was negative. She mentioned that an elderly woman had tried to persuade her before. Even so, I persisted. "You are Catholic," I said. "It is obvious that you are a kind person. Encouraging you to withdraw from the CCP, that elderly woman really risked her own safety to save you. You will be blessed when you quit the wicked Party. Why would you not?" All of a sudden, she seemed to understand what I meant and agreed to withdraw using an alias.

On another occasion, I walked into a high priced furniture store and saw several young saleswomen working there. One saleswoman politely described the furniture to me. After we got better acquainted, I explained the facts to her. She suddenly became speechless. I knew that she had been brainwashed by the Party. I immediately sent forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil behind her and then told her. "I clarified the facts to you because of our predestined relationship. It is for your own good and safety to quit the Party as well as its affiliated organizations. I will help you quit using an alias." She finally agreed. After this incident, I realized that it was important to send forth righteous thoughts before explaining the facts, as most business people have surely been brainwashed or trained by the CCP.

Cultivating diligently

The standards required for cultivators will become higher as Fa-rectification progresses. We must strictly restrain our thoughts and stay focused on the Fa. Otherwise, we can be persecuted as a result of our weaknesses. I learned a hard lesson in that regard.

One night in May 2010, right after I sent forth righteous thoughts, I heard a thunderous sound while I was asleep. I woke up and saw that it was not a thunderstorm. The sound was caused by a broken water valve in the kitchen, and I was petrified that every room was flooded. I looked inside myself after I had shut off the water supply line and cleaned up the flooded areas. I was shocked to find out that I had so many human attachments, such as worrying about my children, watching TV dramas, and playing computer games. I couldn't complete the five exercises or study the Fa with a clear mind. I couldn't even wake up at midnight to send forth righteous thoughts. I realized that those attachments were big hurdles in my cultivation path.

Master said :

"Cultivation and Fa-rectification are serious. Whether you are able to treasure this period of time is, in fact, a matter of whether you can be responsible to yourselves. This period of time will not last long, but it can forge the mighty virtue of magnificent Enlightened Beings, Buddhas, Daos, and Gods of different levels, and even Lords of different levels. It can also destroy overnight a cultivator who has reached a really high level but who has become less strict with himself." ("Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples" from Essentials for Further Advancement II)

I was shocked and awakened by Master's teaching. I was ashamed that my attachments had grown with the length of my cultivation. However, I upgraded my xinxing after I eliminated those loopholes. Not at any moment in the Fa-rectification period can we relax on the path of cultivation. We need to regularly assess and improve ourselves. Otherwise, we cannot reach the levels and standards required by Master.